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Monday, November 23, 2009

Because I was eager to provide a creative outlet for everyone, I rooted around for a great idea. This was the winner.

We pulled out the paints while we were together and got into a really messy/fun/wild project. The idea came from this creative girl, and it looked very age appropriate (every age, right?!) and I jumped on its easy set up and free-form-fun.

To be truthful, not everyone was as excited about participating, not everyone jumped gleefully into the messy fray, and not everyone survived the activity without tears ~ but ultimately everyone tried it, got messy, laughed, made fun memories, and the creations are fab!

I am sharing the delightful snapshots of our silliness - funky self-portraits that capture a really special day.

The supplies are just simple 8x10 paint boards. I made sure everyone had a hand mirror and a pencil. No art critics are allowed here, so we sketch, erase, sketch, erase...until it looked right.

We all mixed acrylic colors and just lathered on the paint. Acrylics are water based - super easy to clean up and cheap if your 10 year-olds get picaso on you. No need to buy more than the simple colors (except that peachy skin color). Pull out a hand full of mixed paint brushes (everyone has a special need for a certain brush, right?) and baby wipes for the fingers…Easy Easy!

Grandma was a huge help and the kids all got really into it quickly. I think the littlest boys had the most fun, they were so free to create - no inner critic, no one telling them that their nose looked too large (Oh, the freedom of a young artist!).

D. had to leave the table to work out his sketch in the other room :o)

Serious about color choices at this age. Debating over the right color of red? of blue?